Corporate Summer Party Ideas: Activities for Any UK Team
You’ve been asked to organise the summer party, and the British weather has not been consulted. These corporate summer party ideas are grouped by outdoors and under cover, with the group size and space each needs. The simplest plan is one headline activity, good food and drink, and a rain plan that is a real alternative.
How to pick a format
Start with three questions: how many people are coming, what space you have, and what happens if it rains. The answers narrow the field quickly.
- Group size. Corporate events can be run for 20 people or 2,000, but activities differ. A VR flight simulator runs with 1-30 headsets, while AI Robot Wars runs for up to 500 participants.
- Wet-weather backup. Choose an indoor swap for every outdoor idea before you book. A marquee, a function room or a large office floor can host the fallback.
- How competitive your team is. Competitive teams enjoy leaderboards and head-to-heads. Quieter teams prefer free-flow games they can drop into and out of.
If your group is mixed, run one team format and one drop-in option side by side. Nobody is forced into the spotlight, and the keen ones still get their trophy. If you want the day to double as team building, our team building events cover both formats.
Outdoor corporate summer party ideas
Outdoor ideas work best when the party is a daytime event with space to spread out. Each one below comes with a wet-weather swap.
Sports-day classics and Wipeout-style inflatables
Sack races, tug of war and Wipeout-style inflatables are the easiest way to get a whole company laughing together. They need open grass or a large flat area, so check the space with your supplier. If families are invited, our family fun days add rock climbing, mini golf and a giant Connect 4. Rain swap: a hosted game show or a Taskmaster-style challenge session. See our outdoor team building options for the full list.
Crystal Maze and Squid Game-style challenges
Crystal Maze-style puzzles and Squid Game-inspired challenges give competitive teams something to solve and survive. They suit colleagues who like a bit of tension with their lemonade. Rain swap: the VR escape room, covered below.
Archery, axe throwing and laser shooting
These are the activities people talk about on Monday. They are skill-based, so they suit people who like a friendly contest. Because they involve equipment, confirm safety, insurance and licensing arrangements with your supplier before you book. A good supplier will be happy to talk you through them.
Tablet treasure hunt
A tablet treasure hunt is an outdoor, geotagged challenge in which teams complete tasks on tablets, with prizes for the winning team. It suits a daytime party where teams can spread out on foot, and the winning team gets a prize.
Rain swap: keep the same teams and run an indoor quiz or arcade round. See the tablet treasure hunt page for how it works.
Garden party, lawn games and BBQ
You don’t need a programme to run a good garden party. Lawn games, a barbecue, long tables and shade are enough. Add one organised moment, such as a short quiz or a mini-tournament, so the afternoon has a high point. Always have shelter booked or a covered area ready, so you aren’t scrambling when the clouds roll in.
Indoor and wet-weather party ideas
Indoor ideas are not just a plan B. Many are the headline act, especially when you want something your team has not done before.
VR escape room, AI Robot Wars, VR flight simulator
These are the tech-led options. Each suits a different group size and footprint:
- VR escape room: teams of 4-10, up to 500 participants, with about 2x2 m per team (a table). No VR experience is needed. See VR team building.
- AI Robot Wars: teams of 6-12, up to 500 participants, tailored to the space from a giant race track to a small arena. No AI, robotics, coding or VR experience is needed. Read more on AI Robot Wars.
- VR flight simulator: 1-30 headsets at about 1x1 m each, using real 360-degree fighter-jet footage and fully staffed.
Driving simulators
Driving simulators use 55-inch screens and force-feedback wheels, from 1 to 16 units, with optional VR headsets and custom branding. They give guests a head-to-head challenge, and custom branding is available. One of our customers, Diane Collins of Howdens, said: “The driving simulator was amazing and enjoyed by all our customers and staff.” Details are on the driving simulators page.
Game shows and Taskmaster-style challenges
A hosted game show gives a big group a shared moment. Formats include Taskmaster-style challenges, Cube challenges, quizzes and bingo, with company-themed customisation and setup included. It suits an end-of-day social. Browse game shows and quizzes.
The Betrayers
The Betrayers is inspired by the TV show The Traitors. It adapts to the space and group size, from boardroom to conference hall, with a professional presenter and all AV included. Run it later in the day, once people have settled in and are ready to accuse each other.
Retro arcade and pub games
Retro arcade cabinets (Street Fighter, Pong, Pac-Man), air hockey, table football, darts and shuffleboard run in a free-flow, drop-in format. That makes them useful for anyone who doesn’t want to join a team game, and a good rainy-day base. Find out more about arcade games, or see all our indoor team building formats.
Summer party themes
A theme gives your invitation and your decor a direction. Popular summer choices are:
- Tropical: bright colours, mocktails and a beach-style games area.
- Festival: food stalls, a stage for a host or quiz, and deckchairs.
- Sports day: the classics above, with team colours and medals.
- Garden party: lawn games, long tables and afternoon tea.
- Decades: pick one era and let the arcade games and music do the work.
Keep decor light and let the activity carry the theme. Custom branding is available, so company colours can appear on games and signage.
Food, drink and inclusion
Good food keeps people at the party. Offer a proper vegetarian and vegan option, ask about allergies when people RSVP, and confirm dietary arrangements with your caterer.
Not everyone drinks, so make mocktails and soft drinks a feature rather than an afterthought. Serve alcohol responsibly, and avoid centring a competitive game on drinking.
Think about mixed ability and hybrid colleagues too. Choose at least one activity that doesn’t need running, climbing or fast reactions, and tell remote colleagues early in case they would like to join in person. Confirm accessibility arrangements with your supplier.
Quick picker table
| Idea | Best group size | Space needed | Works in rain? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports-day classics and inflatables | Confirm with your supplier | Open grass or large flat area | No; swap for a game show |
| Archery, axe throwing, laser shooting | Confirm with your supplier | Outdoor area; confirm with supplier | No; swap for arcade or VR |
| Tablet treasure hunt | Teams; confirm numbers with your supplier | Outdoor area to explore | No; swap for quiz or arcade |
| VR escape room | Teams of 4-10, up to 500 | About 2x2 m per team | Yes |
| AI Robot Wars | Teams of 6-12, up to 500 | Tailored, from small arena to race track | Yes |
| VR flight simulator | 1-30 headsets | About 1x1 m each | Yes |
| Driving simulators | 1-16 simulators | Space for screens and wheels | Yes |
| Game show or quiz | Confirm with your supplier | Room where the group can watch together | Yes |
| The Betrayers | Boardroom to conference hall | Adapts to the space | Yes |
| Retro arcade and pub games | Free-flow, drop-in | Tables and floor space | Yes |
Planning timeline
Start early, so you have the pick of dates, venues and suppliers.
- Two to three months out: set the date, headcount and budget. Choose your headline activity and your rain plan.
- One to two months out: confirm venue, catering and any permissions. Send the invitation, and collect dietary and access needs.
- A couple of weeks out: finalise the running order and check the forecast. Tell your team where to go if it rains.
- On the day: your supplier sets up, runs the activity and breaks down. Gold Tier’s corporate events include setup, breakdown, all equipment and professional hosts. Free venue finding is available as standard.
As Alyssia, Events Lead at DPA Microphones, put it: “We hired branded Reaction Wall and Axe Throwing activities from Gold Tier Events for an annual corporate party and they went down a treat – super reliable, easy to use and fun for all.”
FAQs
What to do for a summer party?
Pick one headline activity, add food and drink, and have a wet-weather plan. A team sports day, Wipeout-style inflatables or a tablet treasure hunt works outdoors, while VR, driving simulators or a game show work under cover. Match the choice to your headcount, your space and how competitive your team is.
What are some examples of corporate events?
Corporate events include summer parties, Christmas parties, away days, team-building days, conference socials, client entertainment, trade-show activations and awards evenings. Each has a business purpose, such as thanking staff, building relationships or showing off a brand. A summer party tends to be one of the more relaxed ones.
What are some fun activities for a corporate event?
Popular fun activities include sports-day classics, inflatables, archery and axe throwing, treasure hunts, VR escape rooms, AI Robot Wars, driving simulators, game shows and retro arcade games. Choose a mix of competitive and drop-in activities so that everyone can join in at their own pace.
What are some themes for the summer?
Summer themes that suit a company party include tropical, festival, sports day, garden party and decades nights. Keep decor light and let the activities carry the theme. Custom branding, such as company colours on games and signage, can tie it together without turning it into a sales event.
Tell us about your event and we’ll put together a tailored proposal. Start your enquiry and we’ll reply within one business day, or see how we run corporate events across the UK.